125 Year Anniversary

A year to CELEBRATE, 125 years in the making

2016 was an exciting year with many events celebrating Children Specialized Hospital’s 125th anniversary. Whether you’re a past or present patient, employee, volunteer, or donor, the hat-themed 125th celebration is a “Hats-off!” to the entire Children’s Specialized community being celebrated at all 13 sites. Beginning with the annual Walk n’ Roll in May 2016, the celebration continued with the 125th social media campaign, 125th historical website, 125th banners in all locations, a monthly 125th anniversary newspaper series, and much more. A 125th celebration video series captured employees' and patients' favorite memories and wishes for the Children’s Specialized Hospital community.

“Back in the winter of 1996 it snowed every week - major snowstorms and it wasn’t ever a problem to get staff to come to work – employees would call to ask if they could bring a sleeping bag to stay in one of the PT rooms,” reminisced Richard Ahlfeld, former Children’s Specialized Hospital President and CEO from 1974-2000. “So there was always that sense of putting yourself above and that just made the hospital extraordinary.”

That’s one of many stories shared illustrating the incredible commitment that has allowed the Children’s Specialized Hospital community to meet the most critical needs facing children and their families for 125 years and counting.

As current President and CEO, Warren E. Moore summed it up, “I would just like to encourage us all to take a moment some time during this year and maybe multiple times and say thank you to Children’s Specialized Hospital for how it’s affected our lives and how it’s affected so many children’s lives and then take another moment to think about what is possible in the next 125 years.”

“Children's Specialized Hospital positions children and families to aim as high as they can, to achieve what they can. We always used to say, making the most of what is left, not what is lost.”